Economic Opportunity

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Clean Water for Flint

NCNW urges U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly to replace lead-tainted water pipes in Flint, Michigan. Children exposed to lead are likely to suffer permanent impairment. The U.S. House and Senate agreed to provide federal aid to Flint under WRDA in September. Lawmakers are urged not to back away from that commitment. This is not a question of politics - it is a question of morality. The children of Flint deserve our support. Government exists to take action when no individual or local action is sufficient.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) provides critical investment in the country’s aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, assists poor and disadvantaged communities in meeting public health standards under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, and promotes innovative technologies to address drought and other critical water resource needs.

In his first address as president-elect, Donald Trump pledged, "We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none." There is bi-partisan agreement that the situation in Flint is intolerable and dangerous.

In September, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), ranking member of the Senate EPW Committee, indicated “We applaud the House of Representatives for passing its Water Resources Development Act and for providing a path forward for a final bill that includes (funds to) address the drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan. We are confident that Congress will send to the president’s desk this year another robust bipartisan infrastructure bill, which will grow the economy, improve public safety, and restore ecosystems while also providing support to communities facing failing water and wastewater infrastructure.”

NCNW was founded in 1935 to lead, advocate for and support women and their families. Today, NCNW speaks on behalf of a coalition of national women's groups with combined membership of nearly 3,000,000.